Charlie McConalogue T.D., today announced the commencement of the 2021 payments under year one of the Results based Environmental Agri-Pilot (REAP) programme.
A total of just under €10m will be paid to almost 3,000 REAP farmers with payments continuing on a regular basis.
The current round of REAP payments includes the participation, environmental payments (calculated from field scoring and assessment) and late meadow bonus.
Commenting on the payments, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine said, “I am delighted to be announcing €10m is issuing to farmers today on the REAP programme.
“REAP is an innovative and farmer-friendly programme introduced this year. To be taking it from concept right through design and implementation. now payment is great credit to farmers, my Department and farm advisors, for working collaboratively.
“Through REAP, we are bringing greater environmental and biodiversity value to how we farm. Almost 32,000 ha is under the scheme and systems are in place to support REAP farmers and their advisors to deliver for our environment.
“This is part of our collective efforts to re-align Irish agriculture in support of our greater climate and biodiversity objectives. I look forward to the continued success of REAP into 2022.”
The two-year REAP programme was launched earlier this year to trial an agri-environment results-based scoring and payment system on farms across the country.
The project is testing the upscaling potential of the model for use in the next agri-environment scheme to follow on from GLAS. REAP will also help to identify the training needs of Irish farmers and advisors to ensure maximum participation in future agri-environmental schemes.
Achievements under the project to date include the environmental assessment and scoring of almost 32,000 hectares using a combination of the Low Input Grassland and Multi Species Ley scorecards, the training of over 400 farm advisors and the training of REAP farmers in the results-based approach.
In conjunction with their advisor, REAP participants may undertake environmental improvement works to increase the environmental value of their land with the aim of improving their score in year two.
REAP participants can also avail of financial support for the planting of trees, hedges and hedge gapping where these actions are likely to improve environmental and biodiversity quality.
Farmers wishing to contact the Department regarding their REAP payment can do so by email to rbp@agriculture.gov.ie or via the Department’s Helpdesk at 053 9163425. The full details of REAP can be found at gov.ie – Results Based Environment Agri Pilot Programme (REAP) (www.gov.ie)
